Book An Inspection to Ensure Your Secondary Suite is Fire-Safe
Homeowners are legally responsible for ensuring secondary suites are in compliance with fire safety regulations. To ensure your suite is up to code, or for free advice on how to bring it up to code, book an inspection by filling in, and submitting, the form above. Town staff will respond promptly.

Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island (Climate Zone 4)
Effective December 2014, applications for Building Permits must comply with provincial requirements for energy efficiency in housing, small commercial and industrial buildings. The building envelope requirements vary depending on your location. New BC Building Code requirements were also added relating to the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and service water heating (SWH). For building applications this means that additional written materials regarding energy efficiency are required. The links below offer further information.

BC BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS
This brochure summarizes the new Energy Efficiencies requirements that came into effect in December of 2014.

The list below summarizes various energy related topics with a reference to the relevant section of the BC Building Code:

Compliance and Application (9.36.1.3)

Building Envelope (9.36.2)

Thermal Characteristics of Building Assemblies (9.36.2.6 – 9.36.2.8)

Windows, doors and skylights (9.36.2.7)

Airtightness (9.36.2.9)

Construction of Air Barrier Details (9.36.2.10)

Trade off options for above ground Building Envelope Components and Assemblies (9.36.2.11)

acting as a forum for discussion and consultation for local builders, developers, home owners and others involved in the construction industry

maintaining records of construction projects undertaken within the Town and review proposed equivalents to determine if they will provide a level of performance at least equal to the standard required by the British Columbia Building Code

Owner-Contractors
If you are an Owner-Contractor, you will be held responsible to ensure that all requirements are met under the Building Codes and Bylaws. This means undertaking and securing the written reports and field inspection reports for professionals you may be required to retain for the work on-site. Avoid delays in construction by ensuring you completely understand this responsibility before proceeding.

Building Without Permits
Building without a permit can result in a doubling of the Permit Fees. Finishing or refinishing on houses, i.e. painting, wallpaper, paneling, trim work, re-roofing, etc. do not require permits. An accessory building, with less than 10 sq. metres (108 sq. ft.) in floor area, may not require a building permit, but a plan should be submitted showing its site location.